Chapter Five
After Neniel bathed and dressed, she joined Lord Elrond for lunch and tea, and the two of them talked. She told her of her falling out with the Company, mostly with the Company's leader Thorin Oakenshield. "But Gandalf wanted you part of this mission, did he not?" asked Lord Elrond. Neniel nodded. She also realized she is making a terrible mistake. She made a promise to Balin she would never speak of the quest to anyone, and now she had done so when she spoken to Elrond. And she realized this would cost her, her friendship with the rest of the Company.
"You looked troubled, Neniel! Are you alright?" asked Elrond. "I'm fine. I'm just thinking, that's all." said Neniel. Two days later, it was announced that Gandalf and the Company had arrived in Rivendell. Lindir enters Neniel's room. "Aren't you going to see your friends, Neniel?" asked the Elf. "No. Not right now. I just need to rest." said Neniel softly. Thorin was the last person she wanted to see. Right now she enjoyed the peace and quiet in Rivendell, and to decide whether she would go on the quest or not.
After sitting for a while, Neniel decided to join for supper.
By the time she entered the Dining Hall, she could see everyone gathered at their tables, and she could see Gandalf and Thorin sitting with Elrond. Great, Mister Stick up His Arse is sitting with them! Just keep your compose, Neniel. Don't cause a scene! Neniel thought as she sat in between Gandalf and Thorin. "Wow, you clean up rather nicely, Neniel!" said Gandalf, smiling at his apprentice. "Its on loan from Lady Arwen. I almost chosen her lavender one, but her grey and light blue suits better on me." said Neniel.
"It sure does." grumbled Thorin. Neniel looked at Thorin. "Excuse me? Did you just say something? Was that an actual compliment coming from your lips, dwarf?" said Neniel, sarcastically. Elrond chuckled softly. "If you must know, yes. All in all, you look-pretty." said Thorin. "Is that it? Just pretty? No beautiful, no stunning, no ravishing? Just pretty?" said Neniel, crossing her arms. "Don't push it, elf." grumbled Thorin. Neniel snorted, and she turned her attention to Gandalf.
"I have something for you that I found in the Troll's Lair." said Gandalf. "Oh really?" said Neniel. Gandalf presented a nice sword to the Dark Elf, and she took the sword, looking it over. "Thank you, Gandalf. Its lovely!" said Neniel. "Neniel, I like to have a word with you later, if you don't mind." Thorin whispered to the dark elf.
"I don't mind. As long as there is an apology in order." said Neniel. And Thorin turned back to the conservation between Gandalf and Elrond, now discussing his and Gandalf's weapons. Neniel could listen to the dwarves talking amongst themselves, mostly about their strong disliking of the elven food. Neniel rolled her eyes. Neniel enjoyed the food a lot. Well, everyone has their own tastes, Neniel thought. After supper, Thorin turned to Neniel. "You don't mind if I borrow your apprentice for a moment?" asked Thorin. Gandalf nodded. "Miss Neniel, follow me!" said Thorin, standing up.
Neniel nodded, as she followed Thorin outside on the balcony. Once they stepped outside into the night air, Neniel looked up at the stars, and Thorin cleared his throat. "Neniel-I just want to say to you-I-!" began Thorin. The dwarf was having a difficult time to come up with an apology to Neniel. "Well?" said Neniel, as she was waiting for Thorin to continue. "I just want to-apologize for my action towards you at the farmhouse." said Thorin. "Is that it? Is that all you have to say?" said Neniel.
"No, that's not all. When Kili told me he saw the tattoos on your back, we all assumed that you were a witch that practiced black magic. It was Gandalf whom told us that you aren't that way." Thorin confessed.
Neniel frowned. "Let me inform you, because I am a dark elf, I use magic for dark purposes! I am not like that! My magic is my life force, and I save myself and others with this magic-don't underestimate the power of dark elves, Thorin, son of Thrain. There is more to me, than you think. In case my mentor hasn't informed you yet, I have not only excellent skills in healing, but I also have the power to resurrect the dead, as well as speak to them." said Neniel. Thorin's eyes widened in surprise.
"You can really do that?" gasped Thorin. Neniel nodded. "That is why Gandalf asked me to join the quest." said Neniel. "Well-that explains a whole lot.." said Thorin. "Never judge others by their appearance, Thorin. It doesn't get you anywhere. I say the same about our burglar too. You need to give him a chance as well." said Neniel, as she was about to turn away to walk back inside, Thorin spoke up, as he placed his hand on Neniel's shoulder. "Nen, wait!" said Thorin. Neniel stopped, and she turned to look at Thorin.
"I just wanted to give you my condolences of the loss of your family and home, in case I forgotten to tell you." said Thorin. "Thank you." said Neniel. Thorin nodded, as he watched Neniel walk back inside the palace.
As Thorin entered back in the Dining Hall, he could see Bofur on top of a pillar centering the dining room, singing, alongside with the other dwarves and Bilbo. Fili and Kili grabbed Neniel, as they danced with her. A smile slowly formed on the dwarf leader's lips as he went and stood in front of the company, with flask in hand, as he began tapping his foot to the tune of the song. As Neniel danced, she turned and she could see Thorin smiling and tapping his foot to the song, as well singing along with the Company.
She had never seen this side of the dwarf before, it warmed her heart to see the dwarf leader smile. So the dwarf does have a good side! Neniel thought. "Hey, lets swing Nen around and throw her to Uncle!" grinned Kili. "Yes!" chirped Fili, as they spun Neniel. "WOA!" exclaimed Neniel, as she spun really fast, and landed right into Thorin's chest. To Neniel's surprise, the dwarf laughed, as he took her by her hands, as they continued to dance around the room. "You could have asked first? Or you wanted your nephews to do that for you?" teased Neniel.
"I wanted my nephews to do that for me!" grinned Thorin, as they danced about the room. "Its nice to see you have a good side, Thorin. You should smile more often!" said Neniel. Thorin nodded.
Pretty soon, the song ended. And the dwarves began tossing food at each other. Neniel laughed. "I think its best you get out of the way before you get hit!" joked Thorin. "No kidding!" said Neniel, as she was about to retire to her room. "Nen, wait." Thorin spoke up, stopping her from walking away. "Yes?" said Neniel. "Meet me in the conservatory in three hours. I will be done with my meeting with Elrond by then." said Thorin. Neniel nodded, as she walked away, wondering why Thorin wanted to meet with her.
"You're not going to join us for our after party?" spoke up Kili. "No, I'm just going to have a little quiet time before-" began Neniel. "Before what?" said Kili. "Its nothing." said Neniel quickly. She didn't want to tell Kili that was she going to meet one on one with Thorin later. She didn't want to give Kili the wrong idea. "Well, if you get bored, you know where the party is!" called out the dwarf prince, as he watched Neniel walk to her room.
Two hours later, Thorin waited in the conservatory for Neniel. Neniel shortly came out, and she found Thorin sitting on a bench, and she could see Thorin holding a small harp in his hand. She wondered why Thorin was needing the harp for, as she approached closer to the dwarf, and she sat beside him.
"Good evening, Thorin! How did the meeting go?" asked Neniel. "It went well as I expected. Got the answers I needed." Thorin replied, as he absentmindedly plucked a few strings on the harp. "That's good." said Neniel. "Neniel, this may sound bold of me of saying this, and you probably think I'm silly if I say this to you. I find you quite intriguing, and beautiful, and unlike any elf I've met." began Thorin. Neniel couldn't help but laugh when she heard this.
"Thorin, how much of that rum have you been drinking?" said Neniel, with a sound of amusement in her voice. "Neniel, I haven't drunk that much. I'm not jesting." said Thorin, his tone serious. "I didn't say you were." said Neniel. "Neniel, I written a little song, earlier. I was hoping it would be more related to our journey, to add more words-instead, all I could think of is you." said Thorin. "And you end up writing a song about me instead?" said Neniel with a soft chuckle.
"Yes." said Thorin. "I don't mind hearing it." said Neniel. Thorin nodded, as he placed his fingers on the silver strings of the harp, as he started to play. Thorin started off the song instrumentally at first, and presently, he started to sing. As Neniel sat and listened to Thorin's song, she realized the song indeed was about her, and his newfound feelings for her.
And she took the hint, that Thorin has feelings for her. However he had a odd way of showing it at first, and now those feelings are out in the open, displayed through song and music. The song moved Neniel, very much, and she looked away, preventing to appear to look weak in front of the dwarf. But she also enjoyed this side of Thorin, however she was already used to his grumpy personality.
Now Neniel's feelings went from melancholy to desire and longing. She longed to touch him, and to kiss him. When Thorin finished the song, he turned to her and smiled. "Thorin, hadn't I know you feel this way, I should have stayed with the Company…" said Neniel. "Neniel, you didn't know because I was fighting those feelings-that is why I treated you the way I did-I only wanted to protect you from getting hurt-but Gandalf assured me that you are a seasoned warrior-and now I believe him." said Thorin, as he placed the harp aside, and moved closer to the dark elf.
"Thorin.." said Neniel. "Please don't leave the company…Reconsider your decision of staying with us." said Thorin, as he placed his hand on Neniel's face. "I will." said Neniel. Suddenly, to Neniel's surprise, Thorin pulled her into his arms, brushing his lips over hers, embracing her in a kiss.
Neniel wrapped her arms around Thorin's neck, as she returned the kiss with a deeper one. At the same time, Fili walked out into the conservatory, when he saw the dark elf and his Uncle kissing. "I think I better come back later!" grumbled the blonde dwarf prince, his face blushed as he quickly walked away. The young dwarf returned to the room where the Company is staying. "Well? Where is Thorin?" asked Balin.
"He's with Neniel-and they were-um-how am I going to say this gently? They were kissing." said Fili, with a sheepish grin. Suddenly, Kili, alongside with several dwarves burst into laughter. "And to think Kili's the only lad here with an elf maid fetish!" chuckled Nori. Kili shot a glare at the dwarf. Balin grinned, delighted that the two of the made up, but it took him by surprise when he heard that they kissed.
Dwalin grinned. "At least they 'kissed' and made up." chuckled the bald dwarf. Later, as Thorin and Neniel strolled the corridors of Imaladris, Gandalf approached them. "Thorin, you and the Company have to leave immediately." said Gandalf. Thorin nodded. "Is there a reason why, Gandalf?" asked Neniel. "I cannot say the first few reasons, but the second reason involves you, Neniel." said Gandalf. "Me? Why me? Do the elves not like me?" asked Neniel. "No, no! Its not that at all! Come here, Neniel, we can speak to this in private." said Gandalf.
"I'll join you momentarily!" said Neniel. Thorin nodded, as he returned to his Company. "Neniel, Saruman the White has plans for you, and I really don't want you with him. So its best you leave with the Company tonight." said Gandalf. "Why would Saruman want me for?" asked Neniel. "He didn't tell me why. He called you a great 'asset' for him. I rather have you as my apprentice than you to become Saruman's." said Gandalf. "Why? You don't trust him?" asked Neniel. "No, I don't trust him. Nor Elrond or Galadriel." said Gandalf. "Okay, we'll leave." said Neniel.
But as she walked away, she stopped and looked at Gandalf. "You're not coming with us?" asked Neniel. "No, not just yet. I have a meeting, but I will join up with you and the Company later." said Gandalf. Neniel nodded and she walked away, returning to the Company.